Visual signal indicator



A Jan. 7, 1941.

P. VAN VLECIK- VISUAL SIGNAL INDICATOR Filed Dec. 23, 1936 .Peirce vanVlecf) l Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a Visual signal vindicator, such as is used tocommunicateby means of light rays the passing of a medium beyond apredetermined critical value.

The structure, operation and advantages of my invention will be unfoldedas the specification proceeds.

The invention is more clearly described with the aid of the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of the specification, wherein:

Figure l represents a front or face view of the device, embodying oneform of my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, taken along thevertical plane II-II of Figure l; and,

Figure 3 is a lateral sectional view of the device, taken along thevertical plane III-III of Figure 2.

The device shown and described in this specification is designed toindicate three conditions of the medium, which, for the sake of clarity,in disclosure, will be taken to be air pressure. It is assumed that ifthe pressure exceeds a predetermined value, say, lo pounds per squareinch, the device will show a green or normal light; if the pressure isless than 10 pounds, the device will show a red or inoperative signal;if between i0 and 10, an amber or warning signal. Of course, the colorsmight be reversed, showing red for 40 or more pounds, and green for lessthan l0, or other colors may be chosen. Further, more than three signalsmay be utilized, the number depending on the information which will bedesired by the operator.

In the drawing, where like reference characters are applied to the sameor similar parts, I8 represents the supporting member for the device.This member may be an instrument panel, a dashboard, a wall, a column,or other structure. 'I'he member I8 is apertured to receive a malecollar II. The back of the collar II has a rearwardly extending flangeI2, which is threaded to receive the external casing I3 of my device.This casing has an opening I4 through which may pass the cable I6 fromthe air container (not shown), or other medium under observation.

Within the casing I3 are two smaller shells I'l and I8, each having aared end supported by the neck I9 of the collar II and held in positionby washers and other members to be hereinafter more fully described.'Ihe shell I8 has two apertures in its bottom to receive the lamps 2land 22, and the shell I1 has three apertures to receive the lamps 2I, 22and 23, as shown in Figure 2.

Underneath the shell l1 is a carrier 24, which may be fastened to theshell Il by screws, as shown in Figure 3, or by welding, or soldering,or otherwise, or which may be unattached thereto but supported by meansof the collar II. The 4 carrier 28 carries three lamp bases, which are 5adapted to receive the three lamps 2l, 22 and 23. Each base, of course,has electrical connections with the cable I6 and with a source ofelectrical energy for energizing the lamps at the proper time. f 10 Atthe center of the device, I provide a shell or tube 26, which issupported by means of vertical wings 2 which mate with slots in theshell I8. This tube is open at both ends, the rear end abutting the lamp2l. Alternatively, I may support 15 the tube 23 by means of flanges heldagainst the neck I9 of the collar II, as in the case of the shells Iland I8. Also, I may provide a separate shell in place of the tube 26,the shell being similar to the shells I'I and I8, and being adapted toreceive only one lamp 2|.

The ilared end 28 of the shell I8, which end is held against the frontof the neck I9 of the collar II, has a plurality of openings 29, whichare four in number in this embodiment. In front of the flared end 28 ispositioned an annular washer 3i, of rubber or fiber, and in iront of thewasher 3| is a transparent glass shield 32. In front of the shield 32 isa color screen 33, made of glass or a translucent plastic. The screen 33has three concentric and separate iregions of color, the central regionbeing aligned with the tube 26, the middle region surrounding the)central region and being aligned with the shell I8, and the outer regionsurrounding the middle region and being aligned with the outer shellI'I.

In front of the screen 33 is another clear glass shield 34 and atransparent lens 3S. The end 28 of the shell I'I, the washer 3l, theglass shield 32, the color screen 33, the glass shield 34, and the lens3G are al1 held in place against the neck I9 by means of the lens cap31, which threads with the collar I I. The assembly is held rigidagainst the support I8 by means of a clamping ring 38 and a rubber orber washer 39. The construction makes it impossible for moisture toenter the indicator, or to pass through the support I0.

When the lamp 23 is energized, its light will be reflected into thespace between the shells I1 and I8 and be visible through the openings29 50 and color screen 33, as red, for example. 'I'he light from thelamp 22 will be similarly Visible, as amber, for example. If, as shown,the lamp 2| is not contained by itself in a separate shell, provision ismade to prevent its light from being visible through the openingreserved for the lamp 22.

To this end, I coat the lamp 2|, first, with a reecting medium, such assilvering, aluminum, or White, then with blacking, and, nally, withanother reecting medium. The lamp is left uncoated in back of the tube26, so that light from the lamp can pass through the tube and bevisible, as green, for example. No light can pass from either the lamp2| or the lamp 22 into the reflecting space reserved for the other. Thesurfaces of the shells II and I8 and tube 26 are coated with reectingmedia, so that the light is reected and transmitted with a maximum ofefficiency.

If a lamp is rendered inoperative for some reason, it is a simple matterto unscrew the casing I3 from the flange I2, slide it along the cableI6, unscrew the carrier 24 from the shell I1, and withdraw the carrierand lamps.

In operation, each lamp is energized when a critical value for the airpressure is reached or passed, and then the appropriate color is visiblein front of the device through the lens 36. It is obvious that theelectrical connections may be such as to energize only one lamp at atime, or two or more at a time, and that auditory signals may becombined with the visual.

The embodiment shown is one form of my invention. It is understood thatmodications may be made in structure, proportion, number of lamps andother members, and other details, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A visual signal indicator comprising a carrier having an openingtherein, a screen in said opening, a plurality of open ended spacedconcentric shells, means for mounting said shells with their open endsadjacent the screen, said shells also being provided with longitudinallyaligned openings, a lamp support including means for supporting lampswith their axes parallel and in longitudinal alignment correspond to theopenings in the shells, and lamps in said supports extending into atleast two of said shells respectively.

2. A visual signal indicator comprising a carrier having an openingtherein, a screen in said opening, a plurality of open ended spacedconcentric shells, means for mounting said shells with their open endsadjacent the screen, said shells also being provided with longitudinallyaligned openings, a lamp support including means for supporting lampswith their axes parallel and in longitudinal alignment corresponding tothe openings in the shells, and lamps in said supports extending intothe shells, the lamp supplying light for the innermost shell lying inthe next outer shell and being covered with an opaque coating exceptadjacent the opening of its shell, each succeeding outer shellcontaining the lamp illuminating it and having the longitudinallyaligned openings for its lamps and the lamps illuminating the shellsinside of it.

PEIRCE VAN VLECK.

